Padma Lakshmi: Telling The True Story of America With Food, Activism and Accuracy: Take The Lead 5/19/2026

Padma Lakshmi: Telling The True Story of America With Food, Activism and Accuracy

“Every human being has a compelling story to tell.”

Padma Lakshmi, 55, international best-selling author, Emmy-award nominated host of “Top Chef” and creator of the James Beard-award winning show, “Taste The Nation,” told the audience at the recent Chicago Humanities Festival, “For many of us, we don't see our story told. Unearthing true stories is all we can do.”

On a national tour for her latest book, her sixth, Padma’s All American, Lakshmi is the epitome of an enterprising, creative entrepreneur who strives to bring all her talents to different industries, while highlighting her identity as a South Asian immigrant and a devotee of inclusive information and access for all to creating and pursuing the life and work they imagine.

Tickets are still available!

Power Up 2026: Audacity: Leadership in Action is August 25–26 in Washington, D.C. and seats are STILL AVAILABLE.

This is the room you've been waiting for. Keynote speaker Margaret Atwood, live and in person. Leadership panels built for right now. The BETTY Concert. Women who are done waiting for permission.

Grab your ticket before they're gone:

$497 — Conference only
$1,250 — Full Experience: Conference + Femme Art Fair + Reception + Concert + Dinner

Don't miss out. Aug. 25–26. Washington, D.C.

Register now at www.thepowerupconference.com

BECOMING HER: 50 WOMEN EQUIPPED TO LEAD THE CHANGE
with Catherine Alonzo
Wednesday, May 20 | 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Avant 121 | 121 E Buchanan St, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Join Take The Lead for an intimate leadership luncheon featuring Catherine Alonzo, co-founder and CEO of Javelina and author of The Changemaker's Toolkit. Catherine has helped advance some of the most consequential movements of our time, and she's bringing her framework directly to you.
At this gathering, she'll go deep on the vision pillar: what it means to name the change you're committed to, and how to build the path toward it. Every woman in the room will leave with something concrete.

Your Investment $50 | Includes lunch and a signed copy of Catherine Alonzo's The Changemaker's Toolkit
Seats are limited. Register today.

Research Finds Abuses of Power

The Women's Media Center reports two new studies show gendered abuse of power. The first from the National Women's Defense League states, "in the past 20 years, at least 30 members of Congress from 13 states and Guam have faced workplace sexual harassment allegations, totaling at least 53 accusations publicly reported. Most allegations (77%) came from legislative staffers. Examples of other affected groups included lobbyists (9%), journalists (2%), and other lawmakers (2%). A new British study of corporate attempts to build gender equity in leadership show women are hired to take on difficult tasks of process change, as men still prefer women who support the status quo (e.g., adopt traditionally masculine traits, downplay inequality) over those who challenge it (e.g., display traditionally feminine traits, highlight systemic barriers)."